Automated valet parking management system and automated valet parking management method

Abstract

An automated valet parking (AVP) management system executes a tentative allocation process that allocates a tentative parking space on a passage in a parking lot to an entry vehicle, when there is no available regular parking space in the parking lot. In the tentative allocation process, the AVP management system acquires a scheduled exit time of a parked vehicle parked in a regular parking space. When the scheduled exit time of a first parked vehicle is earlier than the scheduled exit time of a second parked vehicle, the AVP management system preferentially allocates the tentative parking space not present on an exit route of the first parked vehicle to the entry vehicle based on the map information and the vehicle management information.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An automated valet parking management system for managing automated valet parking in a parking lot,
 the automated valet parking management system comprising: 
 one or more processors; and 
 one or more memory devices configured to store map information of the parking lot and vehicle management information for managing a vehicle being a target of the automated valet parking, wherein; 
 the one or more processors are configured to execute a tentative allocation process that allocates a tentative parking space on a passage in the parking lot to an entry vehicle, when there is no available regular parking space in the parking lot and in response to the entry instruction, the entry vehicle initiates a vehicle travel control to automatically travels on the passage to the tentative parking space, and 
 in the tentative allocation process, the one or more processors are configured to:
 acquire a scheduled exit time of a parked vehicle parked in a regular parking space, based on the vehicle management information; and 
 when the scheduled exit time of a first parked vehicle is earlier than the scheduled exit time of a second parked vehicle, preferentially allocate the tentative parking space not present on an exit route of the first parked vehicle to the entry vehicle based on the map information and the vehicle management information, 
 
 when a first regular parking space becomes available while the tentative parking space is in use, the one or more processors are configured to execute a reallocation process that newly allocates the first regular parking space to any vehicle, 
 in the reallocation process, the one or more processors are configured to allocate the first regular parking space to a tentatively-parked vehicle parked in the tentative parking space, 
 a first tentatively-parked vehicle is parked in a first tentative parking space, 
 a second tentatively-parked vehicle is parked in a second tentative parking space, and 
 in the reallocation process, the one or more processors are further configured to:
 acquire the scheduled exit time of each of the first tentatively-parked vehicle and the second tentatively-parked vehicle based on the vehicle management information; and 
 allocate the first regular parking space to one of the first tentatively-parked vehicle and the second tentatively-parked vehicle, whichever is later in the scheduled exit time. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The automated valet parking management system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the vehicle management information includes the scheduled exit time specified by a user of the vehicle, and 
 in the tentative allocation process, the one or more processors are configured to acquire the scheduled exit time specified by the user of the parked vehicle. 
 
     
     
       3. The automated valet parking management system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the vehicle management information includes an entry time at which the parked vehicle enters the parking lot, and 
 in the tentative allocation process, the one or more processors are configured to predict that the scheduled exit time is later than the entry time by a predetermined time. 
 
     
     
       4. The automated valet parking management system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the vehicle management information includes a history of a past exit time of the parked vehicle, and 
 in the tentative allocation process, the one or more processors are configured to estimate the scheduled exit time of the parked vehicle based on the history of the past exit time. 
 
     
     
       5. The automated valet parking management system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 both a new entry vehicle and a tentatively-parked vehicle parked in the tentative parking space are present in a state where the first regular parking space is available, and 
 in the reallocation process, the one or more processors are further configured to:
 acquire the scheduled exit time of each of the tentatively-parked vehicle and the new entry vehicle based on the vehicle management information; and 
 allocate the first regular parking space to one of the tentatively-parked vehicle and the new entry vehicle, whichever is later in the scheduled exit time. 
 
 
     
     
       6. An automated valet parking management method for managing automated valet parking in a parking lot,
 the automated valet parking management method, which is executed by a computer, comprising: 
 acquiring map information of the parking lot and vehicle management information for managing a vehicle being a target of the automated valet parking; and 
 executing a tentative allocation process that allocates a tentative parking space on a passage in the parking lot to an entry vehicle, when there is no available regular parking space in the parking lot and in response to the entry instruction, the entry vehicle initiates a vehicle travel control to automatically travels on the passage to the tentative parking space, and 
 the tentative allocation process includes:
 acquiring a scheduled exit time of a parked vehicle parked in a regular parking space, based on the vehicle management information; and 
 when the scheduled exit time of a first parked vehicle is earlier than the scheduled exit time of a second parked vehicle, preferentially allocating the tentative parking space not present on an exit route of the first parked vehicle to the entry vehicle based on the map information and the vehicle management information, 
 
 wherein when a first regular parking space becomes available while the tentative parking space is in use, the one or more processors are configured to execute a reallocation process that newly allocates the first regular parking space to any vehicle, 
 wherein in the reallocation process, the one or more processors are configured to allocate the first regular parking space to a tentatively-parked vehicle parked in the tentative parking space, 
 wherein a first tentatively-parked vehicle is parked in a first tentative parking space, 
 wherein a second tentatively-parked vehicle is parked in a second tentative parking space, and 
 wherein in the reallocation process, the one or more processors are further configured to:
 acquire the scheduled exit time of each of the first tentatively-parked vehicle and the second tentatively-parked vehicle based on the vehicle management information; and 
 allocate the first regular parking space to one of the first tentatively-parked vehicle and the second tentatively-parked vehicle, whichever is later in the scheduled exit time. 
 
 
     
     
       7. An automated valet parking management system for managing automated valet parking in a parking lot,
 the automated valet parking management system comprising: 
 one or more processors; and 
 one or more memory devices configured to store map information of the parking lot and vehicle management information for managing a vehicle being a target of the automated valet parking, wherein 
 the one or more processors are configured to execute a tentative allocation process that allocates a tentative parking space on a passage in the parking lot to an entry vehicle, when there is no available regular parking space in the parking lot and in response to the entry instruction, the entry vehicle initiates a vehicle travel control to automatically travels on the passage to the tentative parking space, and 
 in the tentative allocation process, the one or more processors are configured to:
 acquire a scheduled exit time of a parked vehicle parked in a regular parking space, based on the vehicle management information; and 
 when the scheduled exit time of a first parked vehicle is earlier than the scheduled exit time of a second parked vehicle, preferentially allocate the tentative parking space not present on an exit route of the first parked vehicle to the entry vehicle based on the map information and the vehicle management information, 
 
 when a first regular parking space becomes available while the tentative parking space is in use, the one or more processors are configured to execute a reallocation process that newly allocates the first regular parking space to any vehicle, 
 wherein: 
 both a new entry vehicle and a tentatively-parked vehicle parked in the tentative parking space are present in a state where the first regular parking space is available, and 
 in the reallocation process, the one or more processors are further configured to:
 acquire the scheduled exit time of each of the tentatively-parked vehicle and the new entry vehicle based on the vehicle management information; and 
 allocate the first regular parking space to one of the tentatively-parked vehicle and the new entry vehicle, whichever is later in the scheduled exit time.